Wishful Thinking

Do you ever feel like your creative life and your business life are just not in sync? Do you feel as though keeping up with the business side of creating gets in the way of just...CREATING! If this is the case for you, as it certainly is for me, try reading the following 32 page download. You'll be happy you did:

Click on link below for a free Time Management for Creative People download by Mark McGuinness: http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/12/03/time-management-for-creative-people-free-e-book/ sent to me by my ever thoughtful friend and AMAZING fiber artist Mary Bajcz at SCRAP HAPPY Art and Bed Quilts, Jackets, Handbags and Totes, check out her website here: http://scrap-happy.biz/default.aspx )

THANK YOU MARY!!! ...oh did I need this, because let's face it...sometimes things get really chaotic around here.

The above art is titled "Chaotic World," a pen and digital ink illustration from my fArCiCaL fOlK aRt SISTER series

...oh yeah...please don't' forget to check out the charity auctions in my previous posts!!!!

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right. You can purchase my prints and original art or request commissions and at the same time have 10% of your purchase donated to animal charities here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698

Iowa Relief Auction for Evacuated Animals

So you've seen this little guy before but now he's out and about trying to make a difference for the animals that were left homeless by the Iowa floods. Damage flood estimates as of June 16th have now reached ONE BILLION ($1,000,000,000) dollars. In a town of only 120,000 people, this is beyond catastrophic. There are several hundred dogs, even more cats, and other companion animals being housed in temporary evacuation shelters in Cedar Rapids. Many, many more animals are still stranded in the tens of thousands of abandoned homes. On top of everything, the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter has been completely destroyed.

This print, titled "A Groovy Kind of Love" is now up for auction to benefit the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter, where they are putting on this phenomenal auction, to be held June 25-July 2, with tons of items that you might find interesting and feel compelled to purchase. 100% of all sales will go to the Kirkwood Foundation's Friends of the Animal Shelter Fund. You can read all about "Groovy's" auction effort, stories from the floods, the benefits your help will provide and check out the auction catalog here:
http://www.iowafloodreliefauction.com/donna-pellegata.html

Even if you don't see anything that sparks your interest to purchase (I doubt that will happen, I've seen the catalog), you can still help by donating to this cause. Do yourself this little favor and even better... do it for the animals. Look into Groovy's eyes...he's begging for your help...

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right. You can purchase my prints and original art or request commissions and at the same time have 10% of your purchase donated to other animal charities here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698

Etsy for Animals June Challenge

Once a month "Etsy for Animals" (Artists Helping Animals) at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5241805 has a challenge for it's members to help raise money for charities helping unfortunate animals. This month's challenge is entitled "JUNE BUG" and was suggested by EFA leader mvegan5 (click on her name to see her shop!) who spends many hours of her day recruiting and working hard for the benefit of these charities and the animals they represent. So on behalf of her efforts, the effort of Etsy for Animals and to help these creatures I adore so much, here's my entry for the June challenge. I thank them for the opportunity to help.

FLOWER KITTEN...and you thought this little sweety was looking at you? Nope...She's in a field of daisies having a "spring moment"... watching the clouds, the JUNE BUGS and catching a warm sunny breeze with not a care in the world. Lucky her! ALL animals should be this lucky. With your help though, they can be a step closer...all you have to to do is purchase this print "Flower Kitten" which can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10405627 )...or another you prefer, from MY ETSY SHOP "Children's Book Illustrator, fArCiCaL fOLk aRt Creator, People and Pet Portrait Maker" at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698 and I will donate 10% of the sale price to the animal shelter mentioned in my listings. This particular schmoopie's donation will go to the "Last Chance Animal Rescue" located near my studio. You can visit their shelter's website by clicking on the link here: http://www.lastchancerescue.org/ but if you prefer a different print then you can click on any of my other listings offered and the charity your 10% will be donated to, will be in that listing. All of the items in my shop are created by me and are either pastels, mixed media or some form of creative expression (how vague is that) and each and every one purchased will result in a donation to either "Last Chance Animal Rescue" OR "Horses Haven" in Howell MI. Visit Horses Haven link here : http://www.horseshaven.org/index.htm So see? You too can help in the quest to make a better life for a deserving animal that never caused any harm to anyone and would just love the chance to watch the clouds and the JUNE BUGS while catching a warm sunny breeze on a spring day. Just like we humans get the chance to do...every now and then.

It's out of my hands!!!

The illustrations have now left my hands, to be printed and bound and dispersed through the land! As soon as I get my twisted little fingers on it I will show it to you here. Just the cover mind you, you'll have to actually buy it and read it yourself (or to your children or pets) to see the final creation in full. But until the mean time you can read up on it here http://www.heartandharp.net/book.html. She will be announcing it before I do, since of course she wrote it! You will be able to purchase the book by clicking on Diane E. Dunn's website at that same address. I can't wait to see the finished product myself! Keep watching!!!

I've already started on my next book project, more on that as we move along!

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

Sneak peek at the Squeak

FINALLY! The last tweak of the squeak will be finished this week and head off to the press, so here's just a peek. I can't wait to get my hands on it and sniff it's freshly printed pages. As soon as it's completed you'll be the first to know (after Diane Dunn, the author http://www.heartandharp.net/book.html and myself of course.) Then it's off to promote it and start illustrations on the NEXT children's books...more on those as I get started.

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

Fluttering Flirt

my 2008 PAN art entry of my daughter Leah...

Cocktail Coquette
Poetry by Lori Pas:
Red-feathered fluttering flirt
Waving her bellini-martini
Stirring for attention: libation's libertine!
Raising toasts to Bacchus/Dionysus
Singing dithyrambs in honor of her god
Possessed and ecstatic
Here: another frenzied Maenad
under orgiastic spell
Entranced
And totally enchanting
Notice her wand
And don't dare look into her eye!

Something nice for spring...

...so this little guy comes to my front door the other day. He wasn't even trying to SELL anything! All he wanted to do was take a peek inside, maybe make a friend or two. The dogs got wind of him and there was no rest for the weary after that! Total chaos! Reilly after the turtle...Bunji after Reilly...Reilly bites my heiny...I thought Reilly would have a canary! I knew if I didn't take him to the water where he could make a mad dash for cover, he would never come out of his shell once the dogs got out. Poor turtle. He'll never come back to the door again. Poor, SMART turtle...

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

Karacteristics of a Koi Konversation Original fArCiCaL fOLk aRt

This is another altered original of mine. The original, original began it's life as a work for a floor cloth and has developed over time. It was then made into a print, then cut, altered, painted, collaged, textured, pen and inked and added to my fArCiCaL fOLk aRt series. It's about 10" X 10" and created on an MDF board base. Since I spend so much time on book illustrations and commissions, it's far and few between that I can spit these out, but I'm working on divvying up my time. I'm just thrilled to be working at what I love...

You can see most of my portraits and other art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

More Sister Love

This one of many new additions to my "fArCiCaL fOLk aRt" sister series inspired by my sister Patricia, she was my mother, father, sister, brother, everyone. She's sitting at my shoulder now... a part of this venture together, having passed away in 2005 after a very long, very hard battle with breast cancer. Below is a tribute to the many faces of Patti, before and after the wigs of chemo...
























































You can see most of my portraits and other art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

Groovy Kind of Love

Here's a soulful eyed sweetie just completed a few days back. Just look into those eyes. Check out my art prints for sale on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698

I've been so busy with exhibits and illustrations lately there's not been much time to post. The book goes to print at the end of April. That's the tentative date anyway unless the sky falls in the mean time. I can't wait to see it in print! There are two more in the works after that!

Spring is finally getting here..hopefully we have seen the last of the snow, I think we had the last three inches night before last. It's beautiful but this time of year it's time for it to GO! Today was sunny and beautiful and hopefully will stick around for awhile. Possibly 60's next week...wouldn't that be fabulous?! Almost time to get the horses out of hibernation and start riding again!

You can see most of my portraits and other art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

Milford Times Article On Frenzied Friends Exhibit!

photo courtesy of Lori Pas
Frenzied Friends exhibit fills the gallery at HVCA:
http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/LIFE/803200592

Dapper Rhett Butler Reduction Rendition

One of my latest passions in a plethora of portrait pleasures performed presently. What a movie star this little guy is! Still working on book illustrations too, for children's book author Diane E. Dunn and her new, second in a series book titled "The Harp Mouse Chooses Her Home: The Adventure Begins." Good things come to those who wait...keep watching...

You can see most of my portraits and other art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

Madame Tutli Putli

Watch this mesmerizing (and somewhat creepy) animated short film here:

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v4237143M6Ff9rAT

17 minutes of absolutely spellbinding animation...

Open Invitation!!!

205 West Livingston Rd
Highland MI 48357
Phone (248) 889-8660 hvca@comcast.net

The council serves as a catalyst to develop, enhance, advance

and sustain the cultural life of the Huron Valley Area in Southeast Michigan

and to be a uniting voice for the arts

in the public and private sectors of the community.

BEST FRIENDS FRENZY
Two local artists, Donna Pellegata and Linda Onderko will be exhibiting their artwork together, which shows two exciting and different approaches to art.

Meet the artists at exhibit opening
on March 7th, 7:00-9:00p.m.

Gallery Exhibits Open:

Tuesday 1.00 – 5.00
Wednesday 10.00 – 5.00
Thursday 10.00 – 5.00
and during our events

March, 2008

Donna Pellegata

Photo by Gerry Pas (http://www.theartistsproject.com/)

Over the past 28 years Donna Pellegata has created numerous works of art for residential and commercial sites internationally. These works include murals, finishes, portraits, commissioned paintings, hand painted furniture, floor cloths, jewelry and lampworking. Recently Donna has painted mainly pastel people and pet portraits but occasionally has fallen off the wagon and has gone the acrylic route. She also likes folk artsy kind of stuff, so she just goes on a whim with that genre too at times. She used to paint tons of murals but as the houses got bigger and the ceilings got taller, she became more afraid she was going to “break her noggin”, so now she sticks close to the ground. Donna also likes to dabble with lampworking and sometimes goes off on a full fledged tangent with that, just depends on her mood... she’s currently collaborating on a children's book, doing the illustrations while the author Diane Dunn strings her pearls of eloquence from page to page for children to enjoy.


Linda Onderko

Photo by Gerry Pas (http://www.theartistsproject.com/)

Linda Onderko loves working with many different media including colored pencil, pen & ink, watercolor, acrylics, collage and also mixing a variety of these together. She has different work stations set up where she can work on several projects concurrently, depending on what mood strikes her (or where that muse is hanging out at a given time). She credits her memberships and friendships in the VFAA and HVCA for constant sources of inspiration and support.

Entertainment for the evening provided by

Diane E. Dunn, harpist, author, presenter
http://heartandharp.net/contact.html

You can see most all of my portraits in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

In Memory of Cody~06.15.1994 - 07.24.2006

I completed this portrait a few days ago. This Scottie's name is Cody and unfortunately he has now passed. His owner has kindly given me the following information on Cody and his breed. Cody's show name was Terrechien Terra Cotta. Terrechien was the breeders kennel name. It means "earth dog" in French, as a Scottie is a terrier that was bred to "go to earth" to kill vermin. He was very much a "red brindle" when he was younger, that is where the Terra Cotta comes in. Scotties are a thinking dog and if it does not make sense to them to do something, they dig in their little heels and just plain refuse. They are also extremely sensitive. It so upsets them to receive a harsh word. They are mostly one-man dogs, and pretty much like any other terrier, they will give their life for you. The owner's vet told her they are the only breed where their teeth actually go all the way to their throat and their canines are larger than a German Shepherd's. They are an uncanny, incredible dog and give their owner's their heart and soul. He is sorely missed by his family and friends.

You can see most all of my portraits in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows upper right.

Amazing Face by Donna Grace!

I must say I have many personal favorites in my portfolio but I just LOVE illustrating animated expressions like this! I can just feel her pain! Thanks to her mommy for sending this one and providing me the pleasure of creating this portrait.

Thank you to everyone that bid in the last set of eBay charity auctions. I would like to especially thank my customers that went above and beyond helping with the .99 starting price charity auctions. Those people paid well over the final bidding price of their purchases to help the charities within those listings. I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH, it's people like you that help to make the world a better place. You know who you are!!!

Charity donations are still in my eBay store but starting prices are up because I lost a large hunk of my hind quarters on many listed in the last batch. Please remember that at the end of the auction, 10% or $5.00 whichever is greater, goes to the charity listed, then eBay fees and pay pal fees must be paid after that. So as you can see, this is not a get rich quick (or or even slowly or at all) kind of auction, this is a helping another human being or animal in need kind of auction. They would appreciate your help...I PROMISE I appreciate it! I really, really do!!! Please browse my charity auctions (look for the little blue ribbons) here: http://stores.ebay.com/Donna-Pellegata-Artist-Studio_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

You can see most all of my portraits in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows upper right.

Maniacal Mouser

Here's a little guy that is in desperate need of some play time. Check out my ebay listings for some other art prints you might enjoy here: http://stores.ebay.com/Donna-Pellegata-Artist-Studio_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm and remember to look for the little blue ribbons, because those in particular will provide a percentage of the final auction price to a charity in need. Charities for animals AND people. Notice the starting price...now...how can she do that you say? I can't, but if YOU bid high and bring that price up so I can KEEP donating, I will be able to KEEP listing at that ridiculously low starting price with NO reserve, so you can donate even more! See how that works? Vicious circle. Circle of life. Circle of hope. CIRCLE THIS WEBSITE so you can help! It won't hurt a bit and might even make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Now wouldn't that be nice?

You can see most all of my portraits in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows upper right.

Happy New Year 2008!

Well this is it...
The first day of the New Year just waiting for us to do something unique with it. The work here is from my "farcical folk art" series entitled "Sisters Social Sanctuary", it's kind of a collagey, mixed media-ish, conglomeration of fun stuff and a tribute to my sister that passed away from breast cancer in 2005. She'd like it, so do I...it kind of reminds me of my girls. We used to laugh and laugh over stuff like this and things only we would understand...rightfully so, that's what sisters do eh?
I'll be doing some charity auctions this year for The Breast Cancer Foundation and also some animal charities of my choice through eBay. They are authorized by Mission Fish on eBay so you know your donations (and mine) will be going to legitimate organizations. Please help me help them, watch for the little blue ribbons next to the auctions that apply in my eBay store here: http://stores.ebay.com/Donna-Pellegata-Artist-Studio_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm.

Last night was an evening in for us. The holidays provided so many get togethers it just didn't seem right to venture out to another one on such a treacherous night. The snow started around dark or a little after and there's now about eight inches or more on the ground with more expected until noon (last I heard) although it looks as though it's down to a slight seasoning of snowflakes as of now. Fine by me, I loved being home last night watching the snow fall, the ball drop, that crazy guy that jumped the length of the stadium on a motorcycle, the champagne disappear, minus the part about worrying about any offspring having to make the hazardous drive home from work...she made it...she's safe. That's all that really matters in this new year to me. That my loved ones and my friends, well everyone really, can also enjoy the beauty of the snowfall and of life, from the safety of their windows or where ever they are and that everyone has a healthy and happy year ahead...oh yeah...and world peace.


...as of 3pm there's over a
foot of snow on the ground,
more expected tonight.
(final snow total was 17inches)


This is one heel kickin' snowfall!

buddy
Does this blanket make
my butt look big?

twister
Talk to the hoof...

reilly
I've got WINGS!!!
(I can't help but notice this photo
makes Reilly look like a hawk, the
very bird that tries to EAT her on
a daily basis!)

You can see most all of my portraits in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows upper right.

Holiday Latest

OK...

Here is a holiday commission I completed before Christmas, just one of MANY. It's really been busy around here so I haven't been able to post as often as I had intended. Let's face it though, you get what you pay for and you came here for free right? Ha Ha Happy Holidays...my gift to you and all that!

The holidays are always a time of special meaning to me. I love my husband's huge Italian family and this is when most all of them, grandparents, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, babies and pets, come together and take their lives in their hands at my cooking skills. They fawn all over me telling me how beautiful my house is and what a good cook I am... liars lairs pants on fires! If they only knew (and they might have but were just being polite) how much stuff was kicked under beds and thrown wadded into closets hidden out of sight! Not to mention how many spoons were licked and doubled dipped for tasting as I tried desperately to get the recipes "just right."

My favorite part though is just being with them, from the grumpiest oldest (which quite frankly there was none of THAT day) to the delightful youngest and to my daughter's precious elfin Pomeranian that thought the youngest children were brought to HER as Christmas presents. I have mixed emotions about the day being over, I'm wrung out but empty hearted as I look back at a day that will always be a part of what life's memories are all about. These moments pass and are all too often quickly forgotten, so it's a good thing to at least sit for a while and write about them, savor the pictures taken from them and laugh out loud about them so they can be remembered as they should be.

Merry Christmas to all and to all...all things right.

You can see most all of my portraits in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows upper right.